Asianet Pakistan Private Limited

TWO SUSPECTED gold ore robbers have been convicted and sentenced to prison for 20 years each by the Bekwai Circuit Court in the Ashanti Region.

The convicts include Justice Kakpo Mingle aka ‘Nii’, a photographer, 31; and Justice Mensah nicknamed ‘Gaza’, a vulcaniser, who is 29 years old.

Nii, Gaza and one Festus Mensah, aka ‘Gucci’, who is currently at large, reportedly robbed two people of their gold ore and bolted. They were later nabbed and arraigned.

The Presiding Judge, H/H Mr. Isaac Appiatu, found the accused person’s guilty on two counts of conspiracy to robbery and robbery, a police statement disclosed.

‘On the count of conspiracy, namely robbery, the accused persons were each sentenced 20 years. On the count of robbery, the accused persons were each sentenced 20 years.

‘The sentences are to run concurrently in hard labour. Convicts are now serving their sentences at Kumasi Central Prison,’ part of the police statement sighted by the DAILY GUIDE, indicated.

The report further stated that the prosecutor told the court that the convicts were in possession of weapons, and they snatched quantities of gold from their two victims.

‘On 22nd day of May 2026 at about 8:00 a.m. at Denkyie near Adansi Asokwa, accused persons wielding shocker black gun and bayonet used the said offensive weapons to overpower the complainants, George Osei Tutu and one Amoah in their pickup vehicle and robbed them of their Gold Ore valued GHS165,000 and bolted,’ the report disclosed.

According to the police, the victims reported the case to the police, leading to the arrest, prosecution and incarceration of the suspects.

Gold Fields Ghana Foundation has successfully completed its Quarter Four Health Engagement and Access Link (HEAL) programme.

The programme provided critical medical screening and NHIS registration to 735 community members across its catchment areas.

It was organised in partnership with the Rotary Club of Tarkwa, Unilever Ghana, and Diagnostic Centre Limited (DCL).

The event which was under the theme, ‘Every Story is Unique, Every Journey Matters’ took place at the Richard Graeme School in Samahu and the Abekoase M/A School Park.

Executive Secretary of the Gold Fields Ghana Foundation, Abdel-Razak Yakubu, stated that the programme was strategically timed to align with Breast Cancer Awareness month.

He said about 185 women underwent specialised breast cancer screening and the medical teams identified and successfully referred 21 suspected cases for advanced assessment and clinical management.

‘This programme gave community members a vital opportunity to improve their understanding of breast cancer, undergo professional testing, and truly appreciate how early detection saves lives,’ Mr. Yakubu noted.

He indicated that beyond breast cancer screening, the HEAL programme delivered a robust free diagnostic and preventative medical services.

The comprehensive healthcare included X-ray and ultrasound services, Eye, Dental, and Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) examinations and Spirometry (lung function) testing.

The rest included blood sugar testing, blood pressure screening, and Body Mass Index (BMI) assessments, General medical consultations, health assessments, and clinical counselling.

There was also National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) registration and renewals.

Lead Specialist for Health Services at Gold Fields Ghana, Dr. Magdalene Bakari, emphasised that regular preventative care is the strongest weapon against severe disease.

‘Increasing awareness around the prevention and early detection of illnesses-especially breast cancer-remains a top priority,’ Dr. Bakari noted.

She urged community members to make regular medical check-ups a habit and to seek professional medical advice immediately if they notice any unusual changes in their bodies.

A NUMBER of journalists in Bono and Bono East regions have been trained on issues affecting reproductive health rights of girls in the various communities.

Organised by Alliance for Reproductive Health Rights (ARHR), a non-governmental organisation (NGO), the engagement was part of activities to promote healthy reproductive health among Ghanaian women and girls.

The journalists were taken through statistics that showed worrying trend of increasing teenage pregnancy among female junior high school (JHS) and senior high school (SHS) students. They discussed sexual-based violence against women and girls as well as effects of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) such as HIV and AIDS.

Isaac Nyampong, Programme Manager of ARHR, said non-access to vital information for adolescent girls compel them to take decisions that negatively affect their stay in school.

He, therefore, called on media practitioners to discuss health reproductive issues on their programmes as well as educate women and girls on their basic rights regarding family planning services, risky behaviours such as unprotected sex and others.

He further entreated media practitioners to encourage parents to discuss age-specific sex education with their children, to avoid adolescent pregnancy and STDs.

Mr. Nyampong pointed out that lack of information put adolescent girls at risk as well as damage their future. Using statistics to buttress his point, he said data from Education Management Information System from 2021 to 2022 showed 909 primary girls became pregnant, while 5,119 JHS girls were also pregnant, with 2,512 SHS girls pregnant during 2021.

8,540 girls also dropped out of school because of unwanted pregnancies. Again, in 2022, 1,753 pregnancies were recorded at the primary schools, 4,259 at the JHS, and 464 at the SHS, bringing to a total of 6,476 girls who through no fault of theirs or out of ignorance dropped out from school.

On his part, Benjamin Oppong -Twumasi, Programme Manager- Policy and Budget Advocacy, ARHR, explained that the training aims to use the media to highlight the issues militating against women and girls in the country.

According to him, failing to plan families, child marriage, teenage pregnancy, violence against women and other social vices work against development.

The media practitioners, at the end of the training, appreciated the efforts and promised to put into practice what they were taught.

A new exhibition by Ghanaian artist Ezra Appiah will invite audiences to revisit the memories and stories held in family photographs, as Ghanaian photographer and environmental activist Reginald Boateng joins the 2026 Absa L’Atelier Art Ambassador Award winners.

Titled Family Album: A New and a Reborn Version, the exhibition will run from 7 to 27 November 2026 at The Mix Design Hub in Accra. Appiah, a 2024 Absa L’Atelier Art Ambassador Award winner, is presenting his first solo exhibition with Absa L’Atelier Art in Ghana following a two-month residency at the Kromdraai Creativity and Impact Hub in South Africa.

In the exhibition, Appiah draws on childhood memories and archival family photographs to examine how people remember and make sense of family life. Through montage, he brings past and present together, looking beyond the moments traditionally preserved in family albums to consider the relationships and experiences that often remain unseen. The work asks audiences to reflect on how photographs preserve memories while also shaping the stories families tell about themselves.

‘I saw a reflection of self, a reliving of personal experiences that I then translated to thoughts and showed through visuals. So I hope everyone sees what I see and that this work inspires them to do the same,’ says Appiah.

Born in Sekondi-Takoradi and based in Kumasi, Appiah completed a Bachelor of Fine Art (Honours) in Painting at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in 2022. He is a member of the blaxTARLINES collective and has exhibited in Ghana and internationally.

The exhibition also comes as Ghana celebrates Reginald Boateng’s selection as a 2026 Absa L’Atelier Art Ambassador Award winner. Boateng was one of three recipients announced at the Absa L’Atelier Art and Lifestyle Fair at Waterfall City Park in South Africa on 10 October.

A photographer and environmental activist, Boateng draws inspiration from Ghanaian kente colours and coastal life. His work Our Water Turns Red, displayed at this year’s Fair, uses red water to draw attention to the environmental damage caused by illegal gold mining in Ghana.

Boateng’s award includes four months of mentorship with a leading visual arts practitioner, an international residency with the other two 2026 Absa L’Atelier Art Ambassadors, masterclasses and a laptop. He will also have the opportunity to stage a solo exhibition in 2028, with Absa contributing $6,000 towards materials.

Dr Paul Bayliss, Absa’s Senior Art and Museum Curator, said the exhibition demonstrates how sustained support can help artists develop their work and connect with audiences.

‘Supporting an artist means creating opportunities for them to develop their work and share it with audiences. Ezra’s exhibition in Ghana shows what that support can make possible, from his residency to presenting a new body of work in his home country,’ says Dr Bayliss. ‘As we celebrate 40 years of Absa L’Atelier Art, it is particularly rewarding to see Ezra reach this moment while welcoming Reginald Boateng as a 2026 Ambassador Award winner. Their distinct perspectives demonstrate the strength of Ghanaian artistic talent and why we continue to invest in opportunities for emerging African artists. Their stories deserve to be seen and heard.’

Established in 1986 through a partnership between Absa and the South African National Association for the Visual Arts (SANAVA), Absa L’Atelier Art is the longest-running pan-African art competition and marks its 40th anniversary in 2026. The platform supports emerging artists’ professional development and helps them reach new audiences.

Ambassador Award winners receive mentorship, intensive masterclasses led by international experts and a two-month international residency. They may also stage a solo exhibition within two years of winning, with up to $6,000 towards exhibition materials and the majority of artwork sales proceeds going to the artist.

As part of the programme in Accra, Absa L’Atelier will host an artists’ masterclass on 5 November at the Absa Ghana Regional Office, followed by an art buyers’ masterclass on 7 November at The Mix Design Hub. The sessions are intended to help emerging artists develop their careers and give collectors a better understanding of the art market.

Midwifery Officer at the Accra Regional Hospital (Ridge), Mrs. Racheal Regina Hesse, has called on corporate bodies to prioritise breast cancer advocacy at the Nsawam Female Prison, where many inmates suffer without help.

Speaking at the 3rd edition of the MiKAFUI Pink Conference (MiPiCON) 2026, held under the theme, ‘Closing the Care Gap: Actionable Advocacy’ at the Nsawam Female Prison, Mrs. Hesse said advocacy should not exempt female inmates.

‘I engaged the inmates on how to examine their breast a week after their menses. You position that part of the arm at your back to a bit elevate the breast. You can do that in the standing position or when you are lying down, and then palpate the breast in a circular motion towards the armpit or axillary region because that is where the breast extends to,’ she noted.

Mrs. Hesse said the inmates were actively involved, standing on their feet to practice how to examine the breast, with many asking questions.

‘One of them was confused about excess flesh seen at the armpit, of which I explained that we vary in our genetic makeup and some may have excess skin or fat. If you pick up any lump or abnormality, report it,’ she said.

She listed warning signs to watch out for, including inverted nipples, one breast becoming proportionally bigger than the other, and patches around the breast.

‘If you see one, don’t wait to see the other. You need to connect to your guard or instructor. They will take you to the nearest hospital for examination to rule out whether it is cancer or not,’ she advised.

The session also featured a breast cancer survivor who shared her experience after going through radiation, chemotherapy and surgery, which Mrs. Hesse said made the inmates appreciate the reality of the disease.

She stressed that although October is set aside to create breast cancer awareness, education and screening must continue daily, adding that breast cancer does not discriminate based on breast size.

The Gender Minister has reportedly undertaken a belated visit to the Obuasi Senior High Technical School (SHTS).

It is an eye-serving visit which would neither mitigate the pain of the abused girls of the school nor assure us that a future recurrence would be impossible.

Her intervention should have come in the form of a statement condemning the alleged abusive conduct and ensuring that the responsive law enforcement action is effected as soon as the matter cropped up. She cannot feign ignorance of the anomaly.

Her non-action at a time this was needed is understandable regardless of the damage this has caused. She could not have taken such an action against her party colleague. And that is what takes a large chunk away from her dignity as a minister charged with the responsibility of ensuring among other terms, that our girls are safe from irresponsible male predators.

Visiting the school at a time when there are subtle efforts at spoiling evidence required to proceed with the case will yield nothing. While some teachers who know so much have coiled into their shells as it were, some colleagues having been transferred and others penciled for punitive actions over their roles in supporting the abused girls.

We have noticed the PR-intended front page stories about the unproductive visit and promises.

The female students of the school need sincere assurances of support. The minister should have responded to the suspect’s irritating claim that one of the girls is a ‘born one’. It is such an irresponsible remark, coming as it were from an embattled headmaster. It is as though a ‘born one’ can be preyed upon without her consent.

Let us allow the Obuasi Senior High Technical School incidents and others before it to push us to provide proper safety for our female students, not only in senior high schools but at the tertiary level.

We have often ignored what female students in tertiary institutions also go through at the hands of Casanova lecturers.

We have not made the necessary noise that can ensure the safety of students at the hands of their teachers and lecturers. When culprits are even given top government positions, wrong and dangerous optics that there is nothing unusual about this predatory conduct are emitted accordingly. That is not the kind of society we want to build in this country.

Let us not be surprised when delay is deliberately used to kill the Obuasi sex saga.

Enough has been said and written about the Obuasi issue, but it does not look like those whose lethargy when the subject landed on their desks in the form of petitions led to where we are today would be considered for sanctions.

The two scapegoats are not enough. Are others such as the regional minister and others too big to step aside as the so-called investigations go on?

The Education Minister has directed the Ghana Education Service to ban the engagement of students for domestic chores in teachers’ residences. We recommended this earlier in a commentary.

It is not enough to issue a directive whose compliance cannot be vouched for.

There should be a means of monitoring compliance so that those who flout the directives are sanctioned.

The Ghana Water Limited (GWL), Accra West Region, has paid a visit to some of its top-performing customers in recognition of their prompt and consistent payment for water supplied, as part of activities marking Customer Service Month.

The GWL team from the Accra West Region first visited the GIHOC Distilleries Company Limited in Accra and KANE-EM Industries Limited, where the company’s management interacted with management and some staff, and presented them with bottled water produced by GWL and souvenirs in appreciation of their continued partnership.

At GIHOC Distilleries, the Regional Chief Manager of GWL’s Accra West Region, Francis Lamptey, said the visit was intended to acknowledge the critical role customers played in sustaining the operations of the water company.

He explained that regular payments by customers provided the company with the financial resources needed to meet its operational obligations, including paying staff salaries, purchasing chemicals, paying electricity bills and undertaking maintenance and repairs.

Mr. Lamptey noted that without adequate cash flow, the company would struggle to sustain its operations and provide reliable services to its customers, adding that GIHOC Distilleries was among the customers whose consistent payments had helped the company meet its financial commitments and maintain its operations.

He added that the recognition formed part of the company’s efforts to appreciate customers whose continued support contributed to its survival and operational efficiency.

The Managing Director of GIHOC Distilleries Company Limited, Mr. Jones Borteye Applerh, thanked GWL, especially staff from the Accra West Region, for the visit and the gesture, stressing that water remained an essential component of the company’s production.

He said the recognition underscored the mutual dependence between the two state-owned enterprises, noting that GIHOC relied on a consistent water supply to sustain production, while GWL depended on timely payments from customers to finance its operations.

At KANE-EM Industries Limited, the Regional Chief Manager of GWL’s Accra West Region commended the company for its prompt and consistent payments for water supplied over the years.

The Chief Finance Officer of KANE-EM Industries Limited, Sanjiv Sah, also expressed appreciation to GWL Accra West Region team for its continued supply of water, which he said enabled the company to maintain its production without difficulties.

The team from the GWL Accra West Region included the Regional Public Relations Manager, Harriet Boadiwaa; Regional Distribution Manager, Kingsley Dzebu; and Regional Human Resource Manager, Madam Doris Ankrah.

The rest are Madam Irene Tagoe; and Materials Manager, Mr. Justice Aidoo, alongside representatives from the Low-Income Support Department, Health and Safety Unit and the Kaneshie District Team.

Regional Public Relations Manager, Harriet Boadiwaa, said the customer appreciation visits which will continue during the week formed part of activities organised by the Accra West Region to mark Customer Service Month.

The Region began the celebration by sending bulk short message service (SMS) messages to domestic and commercial customers, as well as staff to recognise their contributions to the company’s operations.

The messages acknowledged customers for their continued engagement, timely payments and feedback, including fault reports that helped the Region identify service challenges and improve its operation.

The celebration also featured a staff durbar, which provided an opportunity for employees to interact with regional management, receive recognition for their efforts, and discuss the importance of teamwork in achieving operational targets.

The Birkin should never be the goal. Being a good human being and living and leaving behind a life of impact should be the goal.

We need to have an honest conversation about what we are teaching young women in the name of empowerment.

When we stand on women empowerment stages and make luxury bags, lifestyle, and having more than other women sound like the ultimate prize, what are we really teaching?

We are telling a 19-year-old girl in a deprived community that her worth is measured by what she can display, not what she can build. We are telling young women that empowerment is about being envied, not about being of service.

And that is dangerous!

Because the Birkin is not empowerment. A Birkin is a bag. A beautiful bag, yes. A great investment, even, but still, a bag.

One thing I want every young woman to know is this: be proud of what you earned legitimately. Be proud of the small shop you built with your own hands, the promotion you got because you worked late, the degree you earned because you studied.

There is dignity in legitimate work. There is pride that no designer label can give you when you know you did not have to cut corners, throw away your morals, or trade your dignity to get ahead.

As women, the world already tries to make success harder for us. Don’t make it harder for yourself by believing that you must compromise who you are to have what you want. Success that costs you your self-respect is too expensive.

Real empowerment does not end with you owning more expensive things. Real empowerment is when what you have owned equips you to open doors for others who will never be able to afford a Birkin.

Let me be clear: There is nothing wrong with wanting beautiful things. Wanting to look good, to enjoy the fruits of your hard work – that is human. But when we make luxury the definition of success for women, we lose something.

We lose the understanding that impact is the real luxury. Integrity is the real luxury. The ability to sleep well knowing you did not have to sell your soul to get there, and knowing your life made someone else’s journey a little less hard – that is the real luxury.

What kind of women are we raising?

Women who compete over who has the most expensive bag, or women who collaborate to make sure more girls can go to school, get a job, start a business, live with dignity?

Women who think empowerment is about being the only one in the room with that bag, or women who are committed to making sure there are more rooms where all of us can sit?

We need to reset the narrative.

We have young women watching us. They are listening to every speech, every panel, every podcast. If all they hear is that success is about acquisition, we are failing them.

If all we celebrate is consumption, who will celebrate contribution?

You can have the Birkin if you want it, and if you can afford it. But let it be an accessory to a life well-lived, not the purpose of your life.

Let your goal be to be a good human being first. To be kind when no one is watching. To be honest when lying would be easier. To build something that will outlive your Instagram page.

Because at the end of your life, no one will remember what bag you carried.

They will remember whose life you carried, and whether you kept your dignity while carrying your own.

AFROBEAT SINGER, MOLIY, has made history as the first Ghanaian artiste to win at the Caribbean Music Awards, claiming Dancehall Song of the Year at the 2026 edition for her global smash ‘Shake It to the Max (FLY)’ featuring Shenseea, Skillibeng and Silent Addy.

The original ‘Shake It to the Max (FLY)’ dropped in December 2024, blew up on TikTok, and hit No.1 on UK Afrobeats chart and No.13 on UK Singles. The February 2025 remix with Shenseea and Skillibeng crossed 1 billion streams globally, making her the first non-Caribbean artiste to reach that feat.

The remix topped the Billboard US Afrobeats Songs chart for 22 consecutive weeks and was crowned the 2025 Year-End No.1 on that chart. It debuted at No.91 on Billboard Hot 100 and peaked at No.44, also hitting No.1 on US Rhythmic, and No.6 on Billboard Global 200.

MOLIY first gained international attention on Amaarae’s ‘Sad Girlz Luv Money (Remix)’ featuring Kali Uchis in 2021, which debuted at No.80 on Billboard Hot 100 and No.29 in the UK. In June 2025, she surpassed 20 million monthly listeners on Spotify, becoming the first Ghanaian artiste to do so.

She became the first Ghanaian musician to perform at the BET Awards in 2025, graced the cover of Billboard Africa, won World Artiste of the Year at iHeartRadio Music Awards, and earned nominations for Best Afrobeats and Song of Summer at the 2025 MTV VMAs. The hit earned Gold certification in the US after selling 500,000 units. With this Caribbean Music Award win, MOLIY cements her position as Ghana’s leading global crossover star, bridging Afropop and Dancehall.

Media personality, Serwaa Amihere, has drawn criticism from showbiz personalities Efia Odo, Mzbel and Afia Schwarzenegger after she advised young women against buying counterfeit designer bags.

Serwaa, a lawyer and broadcaster, sparked debate after a video of her advising women to avoid fake designer items if they could not afford the originals circulated on social media.

Efia Odo was among the first to react, questioning why anyone should be concerned about another person’s decision to buy a fake designer bag.

In a video shared on X, she argued that people should not be judged by their clothing and accessories, particularly when it comes to employment.

‘I think what our sister wanted to say was, ‘Cut your coat according to your size.’ But if my size is to have a fake Birkin, what is her problem? And why should you not hire someone because they are wearing a fake Birkin?’ she asked.

She maintained that a person’s qualifications, rather than their appearance or possessions, should determine their suitability for a job.

Efia Odo also questioned the affordability of designer products for young people, arguing that many jobs in Accra did not pay enough to support such lifestyles.

Musician, Mzbel, also weighed in on the debate, insisting people should not be judged by what they wear or carry.

She noted that imitation products were common, extending beyond bags to wigs, nails, eyelashes and cosmetic enhancements.

‘Fake is fake; it doesn’t matter how expensive it is. If it is fake, it is fake. Fake BBL, nails, wigs, bags, and even buttocks. Opinions shouldn’t be formed about you based on the kind of bag you are holding,’ she said.

Afia Schwarzenegger, meanwhile, challenged Serwaa Amihere over the remarks, sharing an alleged conversation from 2021 in which the broadcaster was reportedly discussing the purchase of imitation jewellery.

She argued that Serwaa should be mindful of her comments, particularly given that not everyone could afford original designer products.

‘The statement you made was so uncalled for. The copper chains are someone’s business, and it’s not everyone who can afford the original chain,’ Afia Schwarzenegger said.

She further urged the broadcaster to be more measured in her public commentary, given her professional background as a lawyer.

The reactions have fuelled an online debate about the use of counterfeit designer products, financial status and the tendency to judge people by their appearance.